Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10: Merrick Madsen played for the California Heat Bantam AA hockey program in the Los Angeles area.

2010-11: Madsen skated for the California Heat midget U16 AAA team.

2011-12: Merrick Madsen moved from the West Coast to New Hampshire to play prep school hockey at the Proctor Academy. A sophomore for the Hornets, he shared the goaltending duties with freshman Beau Collins, Madsen posted a 6.42 goals against and .862 save percentage for a team that finished 7-20-0. Madsen participated in USA Hockey’s Warren Strelow National Goaltending camp and the Select 17 Development Camp in June.

2012-13: Madsen committed to playing college hockey at Harvard in 2014-15 in July before returning to Proctor Academy for his junior season. While Proctor again struggled in New England prep league play, finishing 9-16-3, Madsen had a strong season, recording a 3.74 goals against and .905 save percentage in nearly 1200 minutes of ice time. He was selected by Des Moines in the second round (18th overall) of the 2013 USHL Entry Draft. Madsen was ranked 26th amongst North American goalies in Central Scouting’s final rankings and was selected by Philadelphia in the sixth round (162nd overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft.

2013-14: Madsen skated for the Minot Minotauros in the North American Hockey League — sharing the goaltending duties with Mercyhurst College recruit Brandon Wildung. He was 10-16 with one shutout in 27 regular season games and had a 2.75 goals against and .904 save percentage. Minot finished fourth in the Central Division and lost to first-place Austin in a first round playoff series. Madsen was 1-2 in three playoff games with a 2.45 goals against and .932 save percentage.

2014-15: Madsen played in one game for Harvard University as a freshman — stopping 11 of 13 shots in 43 minutes of ice time in relief of starter Steve Michalek (MIN) in a 5-1 loss to St. Lawrence on January 17th.

2015-16: Madsen took over as the starting goalie for Harvard in his sophomore season, appearing in 29 of 34 games for the Crimson. He was 18-7-3 with four shutouts and had a 2.00 goals against and .931 save percentage. Harvard finished third in ECAC Hockey and reached the conference tournament championship game, receiving an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after a 4-1 loss to Quinnipiac in the ECAC final. The Crimson lost to Boston College, 4-1, in the ECAC Northeast Regional semifinals.

Talent Analysis

Coming from a non-traditional hockey background, Madsen is a bit raw and will be tested playing hockey at the NCAA level. He has the physical attributes and competitive nature to be a successful goalie.

Future

Madsen emerged as the starting goalie for Harvard in 2015-16 after appearing in just one game as a freshman. The sophomore was one of the ECAC Hockey league's top goalies as Harvard earned its second straight NCAA tournament berth. A relative unknown when he was drafted by the Flyers in 2013, Madsen's prototypical goalie size and his ability to use it to advantage call to mind another former college goaltender, Calgary Flames' prospect Jon Gillies.

Photo: Petr Straka’s 17 goals are already three better than the 14 he had for the Lehigh Valley Flyers in 2015-16. (Courtesy of Gavin Baker/Icon Sportswire)

The Philadelphia Flyers AHL affiliate in Lehigh Valley are in the middle of their division this year, and have seen some of its key players skate at the professional level. Meanwhile, other top Flyers prospects are competing in the CHL. That means the Phantoms don’t have the same talent they’ve had in the past. Read more»

Photo: University of Michigan defenseman and Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Zach Werenski captained Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he also earned the Top Defenseman honor for that tournament (courtesy of Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images

The month of December featured many excellent performances, fantastic finishes and a few surprises in NCAA hockey. Hockey’s Future looks back at some of the more notable items involving NHL prospects making news around college hockey in the final month of 2015. Unless otherwise noted, all statistics are current as of Jan. 10th, 2015. Read more»

Photo: Boston College freshman forward and Ottawa Senators prospect Colin White has had a good bit to celebrate so far in the 2015-16 season as he is the leading frosh scorer with 23 points in 15 games (courtesy of Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)

The first two college hockey holiday tournaments and a number of stellar prospect performances highlighted the month of November. Hockey’s Future takes a look back at some of the most memorable moments in NCAA hockey from the prior month. Unless otherwise indicated, all stats are current as of Dec. 1st. Read more»

Photo: Mark Alt is one of the first names on the call-up list should the Flyers need help on the blueline this season. (Courtesy of Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers organization is still heavily populated with defensemen, several of them high-end ones. But the Flyers have added some forwards with more talent and upside, which is what an organization known for gritty forwards needs. Philadelphia also has more goaltending depth for the first time in several years. Read more»

Photo: Quinnipiac University defenseman and Arizona Coyotes prospect Connor Clifton will play an important role for a Bobcats’ team seeking a second straight regular season ECAC title, and more (courtesy of Richard T. Gagnon/Getty Images)

The preview of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) for 2015-16 is split into two sections, the first section looking at the conference teams that are not a part of the Ivy League, and the second section covering those schools that are Ivy League. Read more»